Gate system control device and method for controlling gate system

ABSTRACT

A gate system control device is a gate system control device configured to control a gate system having an exit gate, and includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The first sensor senses that a passport of a person who is in the gate system is placed on a placement region. The second sensor senses that the person is moving. The controller controls the gate system. When the first sensor senses that the passport is placed on the placement region and the second sensor senses that the person is moving to the exit gate, the controller causes the gate system to execute processing for notifying the person.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a gate system control device and amethod for controlling a gate system.

BACKGROUND ART

Automatic inspection of emigration and immigration or the like using apassport with an integrated circuit (IC) chip embedded has beenperformed. For example, in PTL 1, there has been proposed an entrancemanagement inspection system that permits entrance when theabove-mentioned inspection is passed.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-249819

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in a conventional technique disclosed in PLT 1, automaticinspection is performed by placing a passport on a reading device.Therefore, while there is a case of exit with the passport mislaid,there is no consideration for this case.

The present disclosure provides a gate system control device or the likethat can prevent a passport from being mislaid.

A gate system control device according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure is a gate system control device for controlling a gate systemhaving an exit gate, and includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and acontroller. The first sensor senses that a passport of a person who isin the gate system is placed in a placement region. The second sensorsenses that the person is moving. The controller controls the gatesystem. When the first sensor senses that the passport is placed in theplacement region and the second sensor senses that the person is movingto the exit gate, the controller causes the gate system to executeprocessing for notifying the person.

These general or specific aspects may be realized by systems, methods,integrated circuits, computer programs, or computer readable recordingmediums such as CD-ROMs, or may be realized by an arbitrary combinationof the systems, methods, integrated circuits, computer programs, andrecording mediums.

The gate system control device or the like in the present disclosure canprevent a passport from being mislaid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an external appearance view showing one example in which auser enters a gate system of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B is an external appearance view showing one example in which theuser exits without mislaying the passport in the gate system of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 1C is an external appearance view showing one example in which theuser exits with the passport mislaid in the gate system of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a gatesystem control device of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an external appearance view showing one example of a readingdevice in the gate system of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing operation of the gate system controldevice of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing one example of a configuration of the gatesystem in an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing one example of a detailed configuration ofthe gate system shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing one example of a detailed configuration of afirst sensor shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing one example of a hardware configuration ofthe gate system control device in the exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing operation of the gate system shown in FIG.6.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing operation of the gate system in a firstexample.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing operation of the gate system in a secondexample.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing operation of the gate system in a thirdexample.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing operation of the gate system in a fourthexample.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing operation of the gate system in a fifthexample.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing operation when the first sensor senses aplacing way of the passport in a sixth example.

FIG. 16A is an explanatory view of one example of a method for sensinghorizontal placement of the passport in the sixth example.

FIG. 16B is an explanatory view of one example of the method for sensingthe horizontal placement of the passport in the sixth example.

FIG. 17A is an explanatory view of one example of a method for sensingvertical placement of the passport in the sixth example.

FIG. 17B is an explanatory view of one example of the method for sensingthe vertical placement of the passport in the sixth example.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view of another example of the method forsensing the horizontal placement of the passport in the sixth example.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view of one example of a method for sensingdiagonal placement of the passport in the sixth example.

FIG. 20A is an explanatory view of another example of the method forsensing the placing way of the passport in the sixth example.

FIG. 20B is an explanatory view of the other example of the method forsensing the placing way of the passport in the sixth example.

FIG. 20C is an explanatory view of the other example of the method forsensing the placing way of the passport in the sixth example.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing operation when the first sensor sensesthe placing way of the passport in the sixth example.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing operation of the first sensor in aseventh example.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of one example of acquisition timingof a background image in an eighth example.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of one example of the acquisitiontiming of the background image in the eighth example.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of one example of the acquisitiontiming of the background image in the eighth example.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing one example of operation of the firstsensor in the eighth example.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing operation when the first sensor adjustssetting of an image sensor in a ninth example.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory view of one example of an image obtained byimaging a placement region in the ninth example.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory view of one example of the image obtained byimaging the placement region in the ninth example.

FIG. 30A is an explanatory view of a range that an image sensor imagesin the ninth example.

FIG. 30B is an explanatory view of the range that the image sensorimages in the ninth example.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing operation of a reader in a tenth example.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory view of characteristics peculiar to thepassport in the tenth example.

FIG. 33 is an explanatory view of the characteristics peculiar to thepassport in the tenth example.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing operation of the reader in an eleventhexample.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing operation of the first sensor in atwelfth example.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing operation of the gate system controldevice in a modification.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

Next, an exemplary embodiment of a gate system control device accordingto the present disclosure will be described with reference to thedrawings. The following exemplary embodiment merely exemplifies the gatesystem control device according to the present disclosure. Accordingly,the present disclosure is defined by wording of claims with reference tothe following exemplary embodiment, and is not limited to the followingexemplary embodiment only. Thus, of the constituent elements in thefollowing exemplary embodiment, constituent elements not recited in anyof independent claims indicating the most generic concept of the presentdisclosure are not necessarily required for achieving the problem of thepresent disclosure, and are described as constituent elementsconfiguring a more preferable exemplary embodiment.

Moreover, the drawings are schematic views resulting from emphasis,omission, or adjustment of ratios for describing the present disclosure,so that actual shapes, positional relations, and ratios may bedifferent.

Exemplary Embodiment

In the present exemplary embodiment, a gate system has an exit gate fora person who holds a passport to leave (exit) from, and can open andclose the exit gate. This gate system will be described.

[External Appearance of Gate System]

FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C are external appearance views showing oneexample of the gate system of the present disclosure.

First, FIG. 1A is an external appearance view showing one example inwhich a user enters the gate system of the present disclosure.

A person who holds passport P enters the gate system, and placespassport P on placement region 22 that the gate system has, by whichauthentication of passport P is performed.

Next, FIG. 1B is an external appearance view showing one example inwhich the user exits without mislaying the passport in the gate systemof the present disclosure.

When the person is authenticated by means of placed passport P, exitgate G opens. The person who holds passport P picks up passport P, andpasses through exit gate G, which allows the person to exit.

Next, FIG. 1C is an external appearance view showing one example inwhich the user exits with the passport mislaid in the gate system of thepresent disclosure.

When the person is authenticated by means of placed passport P, exitgate G opens as in FIG. 1B. However, if the person tries to exit withpassport P placed, the gate system performs caution announcement aboutmislaying. In order to make the person who holds passport P realize themislaying, the gate system of the present disclosure performs thecaution announcement, for example, notifies the person of the mislayingby emitting a sound, disables the person to exit by closing exit gate G,and so on.

Next, in the present exemplary embodiment, a gate system control devicefor controlling the gate system will be described.

[Configuration of Gate System Control Device 1]

First, a configuration of gate system control device 1 in the presentdisclosure will be described.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of gatesystem control device 1 of the present disclosure. Gate system controldevice 1 shown in FIG. 2 includes first sensor 2, second sensor 3, andcontroller 4.

First sensor 2 senses that the passport of the person who is in the gatesystem is placed on the placement region. More specifically, firstsensor 2 senses that the passport of the person is placed on theplacement region, based on an image of the placement region where thepassport is placed. Here, the image of the placement region is an imagecaptured by an image sensor, for example.

Second sensor 3 senses that the person is moving. More specifically,second sensor 3 senses exit timing when the person exits from the exitgate. Here, the exit timing is timing when the person goes to the exitgate, and the person exits from the exit gate.

Controller 4 controls the gate system. Controller 4 outputs a signal tocause the gate system to execute processing for making the personrealize the mislaying, that is, a situation where the passport remainsplaced at the exit timing. Namely, when first sensor 2 senses that thepassport is placed on the placement region and second sensor 3 sensesthat the person is moving, controller 4 causes the gate system toexecute processing for notifying the person.

FIG. 3 is an external appearance view showing one example of a readingdevice in the gate system of the present disclosure.

The reading device has placement region 22. For example, placementregion 22 is made of a transparent glass surface, and passport P isplaced on placement region 22. Therefore, image sensor 31 may image theglass surface, that is, placement region 22 from below the glasssurface.

In this manner, gate system control device 1 in the present disclosurecan, for example, cause the gate system to half-close or fully-close theexit gate, or to announce the mislaying to the person. This can preventthe mislaying of the passport of the person.

[Operation of Gate System Control Device 1]

Next, operation of gate system control device 1 configured as describedabove will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of gate system controldevice 1 shown in FIG. 2.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, gate system control device 1 executes firstsensing processing (S1). Specifically, first sensor 2 of gate systemcontrol device 1 senses that the passport of the person who is in thegate system is placed on the placement region.

Next, gate system control device 1 executes second sensing processing(S2). Specifically, second sensor 3 of gate system control device 1senses the exit timing when the person exits from the exit gate.

Next, gate system control device 1 executes signal output processing(S3). Specifically, controller 4 of gate system control device 1 outputsthe signal to cause the gate system to execute processing for making theperson realize the mislaying, that is, the situation where the passportremains placed at the exit timing.

Next, gate system 100 and gate system control device 10 in the presentexemplary embodiment will be described.

[Configuration of Gate System 100]

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing one example of a configuration of gatesystem 100 in the present exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagramshowing one example of a detailed configuration of gate system 100 shownin FIG. 5.

Gate system 100 shown in FIG. 5 includes gate system control device 10,authentication part 14, human detecting sensor 17, and signal processor18.

<<Gate System Control Device 10>>

Gate system control device 10 includes first sensor 11, second sensor12, and controller 13, as shown in FIG. 6.

First sensor 11 is one specific example of first sensor 2, and sensesthat the passport of the person who is in the gate system is placed onthe placement region. In the present exemplary embodiment, first sensor11 senses that the passport is placed on the placement region, based onthe image of the placement region where the passport is placed, theimage being captured by the image sensor. Here, the placement region isa rectangular region. A length of a longer side of the placement regionis larger than a length of a longer side of the passport in an openedstate. Moreover, a length of a shorter side of the placement region islarger than a length of a shorter side of the passport in the openedstate, and is smaller than the length of the longer side of the passportin the opened state.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing one example of a detailed configuration offirst sensor 11 shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 7, first sensor 11 includes placing way sensor 111,reader 112, image determiner 113, and notification part 114.

Placing way sensor 111 senses a placing way of the passport on theplacement region, based on the image of the placement region captured bythe image sensor. As the placing way of the passport, there ishorizontal placement, vertical placement, or diagonal placement. Namely,placing way sensor 111 senses whether or not the passport is placed withthe horizontal placement, based on the image of the placement region. Inthe following, the placing way of the passport on the placement regionwhen the longer side of the passport in the opened state is along thelonger side of the placement region is referred to as the horizontalplacement. Moreover, the placing way of the passport on the placementregion when the shorter side of the passport in the opened state isalong the longer side of the placement region is referred to as thevertical placement. The placing way of the passport on the placementregion in a state other than the horizontal placement and the verticalplacement is referred to as the diagonal placement. When placing waysensor 111 senses that the placing way of the passport on the placementregion is the horizontal placement in the image of the placement regioncaptured by the image sensor, first sensor 11 senses that the passportis placed. Namely, when the passport is placed on the placement regionsuch that the longer side of the passport in the opened state is alongthe longer side of the placement region, placing way sensor 111 sensesthat the passport is placed with the horizontal placement.

Reader 112 reads information indicated in the passport, based on theimage of the passport captured by the image sensor. Here, after placingway sensor 111 senses that the placing way of the passport is thehorizontal placement, reader 112 reads the information indicated in thepassport, based on the image of the passport captured by the imagesensor. Namely, after placing way sensor 111 senses that the passport isplaced, reader 112 reads the information indicated in the passport.Moreover, reader 112 may determine whether an orientation of thepassport is inverted, based on characteristics peculiar to the passportin the image of the passport captured by the image sensor. When thepassport is inverted, reader 112 may rotate the image of the passport by180° to read the information indicated in the passport. Thecharacteristics in this case may be a machine readable zone (MRZ), maybe a position of a photograph or a hologram, or may be an orientation ofa page number, a photograph, letters, or the like. Moreover, theinformation indicated in the passport is, for example, a face photographattached to the passport, a name, a passport number, a date of birth, anationality, and the like described in the MRZ.

Reader 112 may read the information indicated in the passport, based onthe image rotated by 90° even if the orientation of the passport isvertical, based on the characteristics peculiar to the passport capturedin the image. Furthermore, reader 112 may determine whether or not theperson is an object person who can use gate system 100, based on theinformation in the MRZ of the passport.

Image determiner 113 determines a situation of an installation place ofthe image sensor. Image determiner 113 may determine environmentalilluminance, which is illuminance around the installation place of theimage sensor, or may determine whether or not an average of luminance ina peripheral region of the placement region is a threshold or higher.This allows first sensor 11 to adjust exposure of the image sensor inaccordance with the situation determined by image determiner 113. Aperson in charge who maintains gate system control device 10 maymanually adjust the exposure of the image sensor.

When placing way sensor 111 senses that the placing way of the passporton the placement region is other than the horizontal placement,notification part 114 notifies the person that the placing way of thepassport is other than the horizontal placement. Moreover, when theperson is not the object person who can use gate system 100, based onthe information read by reader 112, notification part 114 may notify theperson that he or she is not the object person.

Notification part 114 may notify the person in voice, using the speakeror the like. Furthermore, for example, when the person is a foreigner,and is not the object person who can use gate system 100, notificationpart 114 may notify the person of the fact in a mother tongue of theperson.

In this manner, first sensor 11 senses that the passport is placed,based on the image of the placement region where the passport is placed,the image being captured by the image sensor. However, a configurationof first sensor 11 is not limited to the foregoing. First sensor 11 maysense that the passport is placed by means of light such as infraredlight, or by means of a switch. For example, the gate system emits theinfrared light in a direction crossing the placement region, andreceives the infrared light. The passport placed on the placement regionmay block part of the infrared light, by which first sensor 11 may sensethat the passport is placed on the placement region. Moreover, firstsensor 11 may include a switch having a projected portion in part of theplacement region. The passport placed on the placement region may pressthe projected portion, by which first sensor 11 may sense that thepassport is placed. Moreover, a touch sensor may be provided in theplacement region, by which first sensor 11 may sense that the passportis placed on the placement region.

Second sensor 12 is one specific example of second sensor 3, and sensesthe exit timing when the person exits from the exit gate. In theexemplary embodiment, second sensor 12, for example, acquires a signalsensed by human detecting sensor 17 installed around the exit gatethrough a network. This allows second sensor 12 to sense the exit timingwhen the person exits from the exit gate. The network may be a wirednetwork or may be a wireless network.

Controller 13 is one specific example of controller 4, and outputs asignal to cause gate system 100 to execute processing for making theperson realize the mislaying. In the exemplary embodiment, controller 13outputs, to signal processor 18, the signal to cause the processing formaking the person realize the mislaying to be executed, and causessignal processor 18 to execute the processing for making the personrealize the mislaying. Moreover, controller 13 outputs the signal tosignal processor 18 after authentication part 14 completes personalauthentication of the passport of the person and the person starts themovement for passing through the exist gate, and at the exit timing whenthe person exits from the exit gate.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing one example of a hardware configuration ofgate system control device 10 in the exemplary embodiment.

Namely, gate system control device 10 is implemented by computer 1000.Here, as shown in FIG. 8, computer 1000 includes central processing unit(CPU) 1001, read only memory (ROM) 1003, random access memory (RAM)1002, communication interface (IF) 1004, sensor 1006, internal lightsource 1007, and speaker 1008. CPU 1001, ROM 1003, RAM 1002,communication IF 1004, sensor 1006, internal light source 1007, andspeaker 1008 are connected by communication bus 1005.

CPU 1001 is a central processing unit, and executes a control programand the like stored in ROM 1003. Thereby, CPU 1001 controls, forexample, communication IF 1004, sensor 1006, internal light source 1007,speaker 1008 and the like to execute various types of processing.

ROM 1003 is a read only memory, and holds programs and data in advance.

RAM 1002 is a random access memory, and is used to store data and thelike in executing the programs. RAM 1002 may be a storage such as a harddisk drive or a solid-state drive.

Communication IF 1004 is an interface for communicating withauthentication part 14, human detecting sensor 17, and signal processor18 in a wireless or wired manner, and, is a communication circuit, forexample.

Sensor 1006 is a sensor such as an image sensor, and is controlled byCPU 1001. When sensor 1006 is an image sensor, sensor 1006 may performnot only photographing by visible light but photographing by infrared(IR).

Internal light source 1007 is a light source used by sensor 1006, and ismade of, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED), a lamp, or the like.Internal light source 1007 is used for sensor 1006 to read theinformation indicated in the passport. Internal light source 1007 iscontrolled by CPU 1001 to be turned on or off.

Speaker 1008 is used to notify the person that the placing way of thepassport is other than the horizontal placement when the placing way ofthe passport on the placement region is other than the horizontalplacement. Speaker 1008 is controlled by CPU 1001.

<<Authentication Part 14>>

Authentication part 14 performs personal authentication of the personcarrying the passport. In the present exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 6, authentication part 14 includes IC reader part 15 and personalauthentication part 16. IC reader part 15 reads information stored in anIC chip of the passport. IC reader part 15 includes a well-knownconfiguration to read the information from the IC chip of the passportin a noncontact manner. In the present exemplary embodiment, IC readerpart 15 reads information stored in the IC chip of the passport placedon the placement region.

Personal authentication part 16 performs personal authentication as towhether or not a person indicated by the information read by IC readerpart 15 matches the person who carries the passport. For example, whengate system 100 further includes a camera, personal authentication part16 may collate a face of the person who carries the passport imaged bythe camera, and a face of the person included in the information read byIC reader part 15 to authenticate the identical person. When gate system100 can acquire a fingerprint, a vein, a retina, or the like of theperson who holds the passport, personal authentication part 16 mayperform biometric authentication in which these fingerprint, vein,retina or the like, and a fingerprint, a vein, a retina or the likeincluded in the information read by IC reader part 15 are collated.

<<Human Detecting Sensor 17>>

Human detecting sensor 17 is a sensor configured to sense a personapproaching the exit gate of gate system 100, and transmits a signalindicating a sensing result to gate system control device 10. Humandetecting sensor 17 may be configured of a camera. As human detectingsensor 17, an infrared sensor can be used. Namely, second sensor 12 maysense that the person is moving, based on output of the infrared sensor.

<<Signal Processor 18>>

Signal processor 18 executes the processing for making the personrealize the mislaying in accordance with a signal outputted from gatesystem control device 10. In the present exemplary embodiment, signalprocessor 18 includes exit gate controller 19 and voice announcementpart 21, as shown in FIG. 6.

Exit gate controller 19 controls opening and closing of the exit gate inaccordance with the signal outputted from gate system control device 10.

Voice announcement part 21 performs the announcement in voice that makesthe person realize the mislaying in accordance with the signal outputtedfrom gate system control device 10.

[Operation of Gate System 100]

Next, operation of gate system 100 configured as described above will bedescribed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of gate system 100 shown inFIG. 6. Gate system 100 confirms whether or not the person is the personwho genuinely holds the passport, based on the information held in thepassport of the person who has passed through an entrance gate. Gatesystem 100 opens the exit gate when the person can be authenticated.

First, when the entrance gate opens, the person enters a region insidegate system 100 from the entrance gate (S10). The person places thepassport on the placement region for placing the passport. Next, gatesystem 100 executes placing way sensing processing for sensing theplacing way of the passport on the placement region (S11). Gate system100 senses the placing way of the passport on the placement region, andsenses that the passport is placed if the placing way of the passport isthe horizontal placement. Next, if gate system 100 senses that thepassport is placed, reading processing for reading the informationindicated in the passport is executed (S12). The information indicatedin the passport is, for example, a photograph and the like. Theinformation indicated in the read passport is sent to a person in chargesuch as an inspector and the like staying near the exit gate, and isused to confirm the person passing through the exit gate. Next, gatesystem 100 executes authentication processing for confirming whether ornot the person is the person who genuinely holds the passport, based onthe information held in the passport (S13).

If the authentication processing (S13) ends, and the person startsmoving to pass through the exit gate, gate system 100 executes exit timeprocessing (S14). Namely, if gate system 100 senses the mislaying, gatesystem 100 executes the processing for making the person realize themislaying, and if gate system 100 does not sense the mislaying, gatesystem 100 executes processing for allowing the person to pass throughthe exit gate without stopping.

As described above, gate system 100 can prevent the person frommislaying the passport.

Hereinafter, a plurality of aspects of gate system 100 will be describedas examples.

First Example

In the present example, a case where the processing for making theperson realize the mislaying is processing for closing the exit gatewill be described.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing operation of gate system 100 in a firstexample. The flowchart shown in FIG. 10 corresponds to one example ofdetails of the exit time processing (S14) shown in FIG. 9.

Namely, suppose that in the authentication processing (S13) shown inFIG. 9, the authentication processing by authentication part 14 has beencompleted, and that the person starts moving to pass through the exitgate. In this case, first, exit gate controller 19 executes processingfor opening the exit gate (S21).

Next, gate system 100 confirms whether the passport is placed on theplacement region (S22). More specifically, first sensor 11 of gatesystem control device 10 senses whether or not the passport is in astate placed on the placement region.

In S22, if the passport is not placed on the placement region (No inS22), gate system 100 advances to processing in S23. If the exit gatehas not opened yet (No in S23), exit gate controller 19 executes theprocessing for opening the exit gate. In S23, if the exit gate hasalready opened (Yes in S23), the processing is ended.

Moreover, in S22, if the passport is placed on the placement region (Yesin S22), gate system 100 determines whether the person is moving to theexit gate (S25). More specifically, second sensor 12 senses whether theperson is moving to the exit gate, and it is the exit timing when theperson exits from the exit gate, based on the signal sensed by humandetecting sensor 17.

In S25, if the person is moving to the exit gate (Yes in S25), exit gatecontroller 19 executes processing for closing the exit gate (S26). Morespecifically, when first sensor 11 senses that the passport is placed atthe exit timing sensed by second sensor 12, controller 13 outputs asignal to close the exit gate as the processing for making the personrealize the mislaying. Exit gate controller 19 performs control to closethe exit gate in accordance with the signal output by controller 13.

Furthermore, subsequently to the processing in S26, or at the sametiming as the processing in S26, gate system 100 may perform themislaying announcement that makes an announcement in voice to make theperson realize the mislaying (S27). More specifically, controller 13 mayoutput a signal to issue an alarm notifying that the passport remainsplaced to cause voice announcement part 21 to generate the alarm.

As described above, in the present example, if the person is about toleave the exit gate with the passport mislaid, the exit gate may beclosed to make the person realize the mislaying. Namely, controller 13causes the gate system to execute the processing for closing the exitgate as the processing for notifying the person.

This can prevent the person from immigrating or emigrating with thepassport mislaid.

Here, controller 13 outputs the signal to fully-close the exit gate, andcontrols so as to cause exit gate controller 19 to fully-close the exitgate. However, the control by controller 13 is not limited thereto.Controller 13 may output a signal to close the exit gate half or more,and control so as to cause exit gate controller 19 to close the exitgate half or more. In this case, attention arousing to make the personrealize the mislaying can be performed while preventing the person whohas mislaid the passport from being caught by the exit gate.

Second Example

In the present example, a case where the processing for making theperson realize the mislaying is processing of announcing a personal namein voice will be described.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing operation of gate system 100 in a secondexample. The flowchart shown in FIG. 11 corresponds to one example ofdetails of the exit time processing (S14) shown in FIG. 9.

Namely, suppose that in the authentication processing (S13) shown inFIG. 9, the authentication processing by authentication part 14 has beencompleted, and that the person starts moving to pass through the exitgate. In this case, first, exit gate controller 19 executes theprocessing for opening the exit gate (S31).

Next, gate system 100 confirms whether the passport is placed on theplacement region (S32). More specifically, first sensor 11 of gatesystem control device 10 senses whether or not the passport is in thestate placed on the placement region.

In S32, if the passport is not placed on the placement region (No inS32), the processing ends.

Moreover, in S32, if the passport is placed on the placement region (Yesin S32), gate system 100 determines whether the person is moving to theexit gate (S33). More specifically, second sensor 12 senses whether theperson is moving to the exit gate, and it is the exit timing when theperson exits from the exit gate, based on the signal sensed by humandetecting sensor 17.

In S33, if the person is moving to the exit gate (Yes in S33), gatesystem 100 executes the processing for causing voice announcement part21 to execute announcement in voice to make the person realize themislaying (S34). More specifically, controller 13 may output a signal toutter a voice including the personal name of the person, and notifyingthat the passport remains placed, and cause voice announcement part 21to utter the voice. The personal name of the person is acquired in thereading processing (S12) or the authentication processing (S13) shown inFIG. 9.

As described above, in the present example, when first sensor 11 sensesthat the passport is placed at the exit timing sensed by second sensor12, controller 13 outputs the signal to utter the voice including thename of the person included in the passport, and notifying that thepassport remains placed as the processing for making the person realizethe mislaying. Namely, reader 112 may acquire the name of the personfrom the information indicated in the passport. Controller 13 may causethe gate system to execute the processing for uttering the voiceincluding the name of the person as the processing for notifying theperson.

This can prevent the person from immigrating or emigrating with thepassport mislaid.

Third Example

In the present example, a case where the processing for making theperson realize the mislaying is the processing for not opening the exitgate will be described. Hereinafter, a description will be given on thepremise that when the person enters from the entrance gate, the exitgate is in a closed state.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing operation of gate system 100 in a thirdexample. The flowchart shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to one example ofdetails of the exit time processing (S14) shown in FIG. 9.

Namely, suppose that in the authentication processing (S13) shown in

FIG. 9, the authentication processing by authentication part 14 has beencompleted, and that the person starts moving to pass through the exitgate. In this case, first, gate system 100 confirms whether the passportis placed on the placement region (S41). More specifically, first sensor11 of gate system control device 10 senses whether or not the passportis in the state placed on the placement region.

In S41, if the passport is not placed on the placement region (No inS41), gate system 100 opens the exit gate (S42). More specifically, iffirst sensor 11 senses a state where the passport is not placed on theplacement region, controller 13 causes signal processor 18 to output asignal to open the exit gate. When acquiring this signal, exit gatecontroller 19 executes the processing for opening the exit gate.

On the other hand, if the passport is placed on the placement region inS41 (Yes in S41), the processing returns to the processing in S41. Morespecifically, if the passport is not placed on the placement region,gate system 100 may leave the exit gate closed without executing anyprocessing. Moreover, if the passport is placed on the placement region,when first sensor 11 senses that the passport is placed at the exittiming sensed by second sensor 12, controller 13 may output a signal toleave the exit gate closed as the processing for making the personrealize the mislaying. This allows exit gate controller 19 to executethe processing for keeping the exit gate in the closed state.

As described above, in the present example, if the person mislays thepassport, the exit gate may not be opened to thereby make the personrealize the mislaying.

This can prevent the person from immigrating or emigrating with thepassport mislaid.

Fourth Example

In the present example, the gate system includes the entrance gate forthe person who holds the passport to enter. Moreover, in the presentexample, signal processor 18 includes an entrance gate controller (notshown) configured to control opening and closing of the entrance gate inaccordance with a signal output from gate system control device 10.

In the present example, a case where the processing for making theperson realize the mislaying is processing for inhibiting a next personfrom entering without opening the entrance gate will be described. Adescription will be given on the premise that when the person entersfrom the entrance gate, the entrance gate is in a closed state.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing operation of gate system 100 in a fourthexample. The flowchart shown in FIG. 13 corresponds to one example ofdetails of the exit time processing (S14) shown in FIG. 9.

Namely, suppose that in the authentication processing (S13) shown inFIG. 9, the authentication processing by authentication part 14 has beencompleted, and that the person starts moving to pass through the exitgate. In this case, first, gate system 100 confirms whether the passportis placed on the placement region (S51). More specifically, first sensor11 of gate system control device 10 senses whether or not the passportis in the state placed on the placement region.

In S51, if the passport is not placed on the placement region (No inS51), gate system 100 opens the entrance gate (S52). More specifically,if first sensor 11 senses the state where the passport is not placed onthe placement region, controller 13 outputs, to signal processor 18, asignal to open the entrance gate. Upon acquiring this signal, theentrance gate controller executes the processing for opening theentrance gate.

On the other hand, suppose that in S51 if the passport is placed on theplacement region (Yes in S51), gate system 100 leaves the entrance gateclosed (S53). The processing returns to the processing in S51. Morespecifically, if the passport is placed on the placement region, gatesystem 100 may leave the entrance gate closed without executing anyprocessing. Moreover, if the passport is placed on the placement region,when first sensor 11 senses that the passport is placed at the exittiming sensed by second sensor 12, controller 13 may output a signal toleave the entrance gate closed as the processing for making the personrealize the mislaying.

This allows the entrance gate controller to execute the processing forkeeping the entrance gate in the closed state.

As described above, in the present example, if the person mislays thepassport, leaving the entrance gate closed prevents a next person (aperson) from entering. In this manner, the mislaying may be realized.This can prevent the next person from taking the passport and leaving orthe like. Moreover, this can prevent the person from immigrating oremigrating with the passport mislaid.

Fifth Example

In the present example, a case will be described where in gate system100, the person can desire the inspector to impress an immigration oremigration stamp to the passport after passing through the exit gate.

In the present example, gate system control device 10 further includes astamp confirming part (not shown). The stamp confirming part confirmswith the person whether he or she desires the impression of theimmigration or emigration stamp to the passport after the authenticationprocessing of the person using the passport. If the stamp confirmingpart confirms that the impression of the immigration or emigration stampis desired, controller 13 further outputs a signal indicating that theimpression of the immigration or emigration stamp is to be performedafter the person exits from the exit gate. Controller 13 outputs thissignal to a terminal used by the inspector staying near (around) theexit gate of gate system 100.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing operation of gate system 100 in a fifthexample. The flowchart shown in FIG. 14 corresponds to one example ofprocessing to be executed after the authentication processing (S13)shown in FIG. 9. The processing in the flowchart shown in FIG. 14 may beexecuted, for example, between the authentication processing (S13) andthe exit time processing (S14), or may be executed after the exit timeprocessing (S14).

In FIG. 9, suppose that the authentication processing by authenticationpart 14 has been completed. In this case, first, gate system 100confirms with the person whether he or she desires the stamp (S54).Here, desiring the stamp means that the person desires the inspector toimpress the dated immigration or emigration stamp to the passport. Morespecifically, controller 13 of gate system control device 10 may outputa signal to confirm whether or not the stamp is desired after theauthentication processing of the person using the passport byauthentication part 14. In this case, a display at a position where theperson can confirm displays a screen configured to confirm with theperson whether or not he or she desires the stamp. This display may beincluded in gate system control device 10, or may be near the placementregion.

In S54, if the person does not desire the stamp (No in S54), theprocessing for confirming whether he or she desires the stamp ends.Thereafter, the processing may advance to the next processing such asthe exit time processing (S14) and the like shown in FIG. 9.

On the other hand, if the person desires the stamp in S54 (Yes in S54),the impression of the immigration or emigration stamp is performed afterthe person exits from the exit gate (S55). More specifically, if theperson desires the stamp, gate system 100 outputs a signal, to theterminal used by the inspector staying around the exit gate, the signalindicating that the impression of the immigration or emigration stamp isto be performed after the person exits from the exit gate. This allowsthe inspector to impress the immigration or emigration stamp after theperson exits from the exit gate.

In this manner, it is confirmed whether or not the stamp is desiredafter the authentication has been completed, by which the person canperform actions that are enabled by impression of the immigration oremigration stamp to the passport. Here, the actions that are enabled bythe impression of the immigration or emigration stamp to the passportare shopping utilizing tax exemption, and the like.

Here, the example has been described in which gate system 100 outputsthe signal indicating that the impression of the immigration oremigration stamp is to be performed to the terminal used by theinspector staying around the exit gate. However, the present disclosureis not limited thereto. Gate system 100 may have a mechanism configuredto perform the impression of the immigration or emigration stamp. Inthis case, by automatically searching for vacant space in the passport,or by specifying a place where the person wants the stamp to beimpressed, gate system 100 may perform the impression of the immigrationor emigration stamp.

Sixth Example

In the present example, processing will be described, in which when theplacing way of the passport sensed by first sensor 11 is not thehorizontal placement, this situation is notified. In the followingdrawings, similar elements are given with the same reference marks, anddetailed description is omitted.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing operation when first sensor 11 senses theplacing way of the passport in a sixth example. The flowchart shown inFIG. 15 corresponds to one example of details of the placing way sensingprocessing (S11) shown in FIG. 9.

Namely, in the placing way sensing processing (S11) shown in FIG. 9,first, first sensor 11 senses whether the placing way of the passport onthe placement region is the horizontal placement (S61). Morespecifically, placing way sensor 111 senses whether the placing way ofthe passport on the placement region is the horizontal placement, basedon the image of the placement region captured by the image sensor.Placing way sensor 111 senses the horizontal placement or the like,using an image after processing, which is an image after subjecting theimage of the placement region captured by the image sensor tobinarization processing by a background subtraction technique or by animage level. Details of the sensing method will be described later.

In S61, if the placing way of the passport on the placement region isthe horizontal placement (Yes in S61), the processing ends.

On the other hand, in S61, if the placing way of the passport on theplacement region is not the horizontal placement (No in S61), firstsensor 11 senses whether the placing way of the passport on theplacement region is the vertical placement (S62). More specifically,placing way sensor 111 senses whether the placing way of the passport onthe placement region is the vertical placement, based on the image ofthe placement region captured by the image sensor.

In S62, if the placing way of the passport on the placement region isthe vertical placement (Yes in S62), first sensor 11 notifies that theplacing way of the passport is the vertical placement (S63). Theprocessing then returns to the processing in S61. More specifically, ifplacing way sensor 111 senses that the placing way of the passport onthe placement region is the vertical placement, notification part 114notifies the person that the placing way of the passport is the verticalplacement. In S62, if the placing way of the passport is not thevertical placement (No in S62), the processing also returns to theprocessing S61.

While notification part 114 notifies the person that the placing way ofthe passport is the vertical placement, the present example is notlimited thereto. Notification is performed so as to promote the placingway of the passport to change to the horizontal placement.

In this manner, if the placing way of the passport in the placementregion is the vertical placement, first sensor 11 notifies that theplacing way is wrong, or that the placing way should be properly changedto the horizontal placement. Namely, if the passport is not placed withthe horizontal placement, controller 13 causes the gate system toexecute the processing for notifying the person that the passport is notplaced with the horizontal placement. Since this allows automaticinspection of the passport to start, time for the inspection can beshortened.

Hereinafter, a method for sensing the placing way of the passport on theplacement region by placing way sensor 111 will be described.

Placing way sensor 111 senses a shape pattern formed of white pixelswith which the placement region in the image after the processing isfilled, which is the image after subjecting the image of the placementregion captured by the image sensor to the background subtractiontechnique or the binarization processing by an image level. This mayallow placing way sensor 111 to sense the placing way of the passport onthe placement region. The background subtraction technique is a methodin which a difference (an absolute value thereof) from a current inputimage is calculated, using a background image, and proper thresholdprocessing is executed to extract an object captured in the input image.In the present example, an image of the placement region in a statewhere the passport is not placed corresponds to the background image,and an image of the placement region in a state where the passport isplaced is the input image.

For example, by sensing a ratio of the white pixels with which theplacement region in the image after the processing is filled, placingway sensor 111 may sense that the placing way of the passport on theplacement region is the horizontal placement or other than thehorizontal placement. Hereinafter, this will be described with referenceto FIG. 16A to FIG. 17B.

FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B are explanatory views of one example of a methodfor sensing the horizontal placement of the passport in the sixthexample. FIG. 16A shows the image after the processing, which is theimage after subjecting the image of the placement region captured by theimage sensor to the background subtraction technique or the binarizationprocessing by the image level. Moreover, in the image after theprocessing shown in FIG. 16A, placement region 22 is shown, and region23 (i.e., a region of the white pixels) is shown. Region 23 correspondsto a region of the passport when the passport in the opened state isplaced on placement region 22.

Placing way sensor 111 moves frame 23 a shown in FIG. 16B in placementregion 22 of the image after the processing shown in FIG. 16A. Placingway sensor 111 searches for a position where frame 23 a overlaps region23 inside placement region 22. If at the position where frame 23 aoverlaps region 23 inside placement region 22, a filling rate (a ratioof the white pixels) of region 23 (i.e., the white pixels) inside frame23 a is a threshold or higher, it can be sensed that region 23 indicatesthat the passport is placed with the horizontal placement.

FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B are explanatory views of one example of a methodfor sensing the vertical placement of the passport in the sixth example.FIG. 17A shows an image after the processing, which is the image aftersubjecting the image of the placement region captured by the imagesensor to the background subtraction technique or the binarizationprocessing by the image level. In the image after the processing shownin FIG. 17A, placement region 22 a and region 24 (i.e., a region of thewhite pixels) are shown. Region 24 corresponds to a region of thepassport when the passport in the opened state is placed on placementregion 22 a.

Placing way sensor 111 moves frame 24 a shown in FIG. 17B in placementregion 22 a of the image after the processing shown in FIG. 17A. Placingway sensor 111 searches for a position where frame 24 a overlaps region24 inside placement region 22 a. If at the position where frame 24 aoverlaps region 24 inside placement region 22 a, the filling rate (theratio of the white pixels) of region 24 (i.e., the white pixels) insideframe 24 a is a threshold or higher, it can be sensed that region 24indicates that the passport is placed with the vertical placement.

Moreover, if placing way sensor 111 senses that a length of a longerside in the region formed by the white pixels filling an inside of theplacement region in the image after the processing substantiallycorresponds to a length of a longer side of the passport in the openedstate, placing way sensor 111 may sense that the placing way of thepassport in the placement region is the horizontal placement.Hereinafter, this will be described with reference to FIG. 18 and FIG.19.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view of another example of the method forsensing the horizontal placement of the passport in the sixth example.In FIG. 18, placement region 22 and region 23 (i.e., the region of thewhite pixels) in the image after the processing shown in FIG. 16A areshown.

As shown in FIG. 18, if a continuous pixel length of the white pixels(length l1 of the longer side in region 23 in FIG. 18) filling theinside of placement region 22 in the image after the processing is awidth of the passport when the passport is placed with the horizontalplacement, placing way sensor 111 can sense that the passport is placedwith the vertical placement. Here, the width when the passport is placedwith the horizontal placement corresponds to the length of the longerside of the passport in the opened state.

Moreover, placing way sensor 111 may sense that the placing way of thepassport in the placement region is other than the horizontal placement.Hereinafter, a case where the placing way of the passport is thediagonal placement will be described in FIG. 19.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view of one example of a method for sensingthe diagonal placement of the passport in the sixth example. FIG. 19shows an image after the processing, which is the image after subjectingthe image of the placement region captured by the image sensor to thebackground subtraction technique or the binarization processing by theimage level. In the image after the processing shown in FIG. 19,placement region 22 c and region 25, that is, a region of the whitepixels, are shown. Region 25 corresponds to a region of the passportwhen the passport in the opened state is placed in placement region 22c.

As shown in FIG. 19, placing way sensor 111 can sense that the passportis placed with the diagonal placement, based on length l2 of ahorizontal line and length l3 of a vertical line of placement region 22c of the white pixels (region 25) filling an inside of placement region22 c in the image after the processing. Namely, this is because iflengths l2, l3 of the horizontal and vertical lines are notsubstantially constant along horizon and vertical directions ofplacement region 22 c, but increase or decrease, placing way sensor 111can determine that the passport is placed with the diagonal placement.

Moreover, by sensing a filling extent of black pixels around theplacement region in the image after the processing, placing way sensor111 may sense whether the placing way of the passport in the placementregion is the horizontal placement or other than the horizontalplacement. Hereinafter, this will be described with reference to FIG.20A to FIG. 20C.

FIG. 20A to FIG. 20C are explanatory views of another example of themethod for sensing placing way of the passport in the sixth example.

FIG. 20A and FIG. 20B show an image after the processing, which is theimage after subjecting the image of the placement region captured by theimage sensor to the background subtraction technique or the binarizationprocessing by the image level. In the image after the processing shownin FIG. 20A, placement region 22, region 23, and region 26, which is anarea of the black pixels, are shown. In the image after the processingshown in FIG. 20B, placement region 22 b, region 24, and region 27,which is a region of the black pixels, are shown.

Placing way sensor 111 can sense whether the placing way of the passporton the placement region is the horizontal placement or the verticalplacement from the extent of the filling of the black pixels insideframe 28 when frames 28 at positions shown in FIG. 20C overlaps FIG. 20Aand FIG. 20B. For example, if a filling rate (an area of region 26) ofthe black pixels overlapping frames 28 shown in FIG. 20C is smaller thana threshold in placement region 22 of the image after the processingshown in FIG. 20A, placing way sensor 111 can sense that the passport isplaced with the horizontal placement. Moreover, for example, if thefilling rate (an area of region 27) of the black pixels overlappingframes 28 shown in FIG. 20C is larger than a threshold in placementregion 22 b of the image after the processing shown in FIG. 20B, placingway sensor 111 can sense that the passport is placed with the verticalplacement.

In this manner, placing way sensor 111 can sense the placing way of thepassport on the placement region by sensing a filling state of a patternthat looks like the horizontal placement or the vertical placement, afilling state (a situation of the continuous pixel length) inside thepassport, or a vacant state around the passport, using the image afterthe binarization processing by the background subtraction technique orby the image level.

It has been described that in S62 in FIG. 15, after sensing that theplacing way of the passport on the placement region is the verticalplacement, first sensor 11 notifies that the placing way of the passportis the vertical placement. However, the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. After a predetermined time, which is a grace time forthe person who is about to place the passport on the placement region torealize the wrong placing way for himself or herself, or to properlyreplace the passport with the horizontal placement, the notificationindicating that the placing way of the passport is the verticalplacement may be performed. Namely, when it is sensed continuously for apredetermined time by placing way sensor 111 that the placing way of thepassport on the placement region is other than the horizontal placement,notification part 114 may notify the person that the placing way isother than the horizontal placement. Hereinafter, this will be describedwith reference to FIG. 21.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing operation when first sensor 11 senses theplacing way of the passport in the sixth example. The flowchart shown inFIG. 21 corresponds to one example of details of the placing way sensingprocessing (S11) shown in FIG. 9. Similar elements to those in FIG. 15are given with the same reference marks, and detailed description isomitted.

Namely, in S71, if the placing way of the passport on the placementregion is the vertical placement (Yes in S71), first sensor 11 senseswhether the placing way of the passport on the placement region is thevertical placement continuously for three or more seconds (S72). Morespecifically, placing way sensor 111 senses whether the placing way ofthe passport on the placement region is the vertical placementcontinuously for three or more seconds, based on the image of theplacement region captured by the image sensor. Here, three or moreseconds is one example of the predetermined time, and the predeterminedtime is not limited thereto.

If the placing way of the passport on the placement region is thevertical placement continuously for three or more seconds (Yes in S72),first sensor 11 notifies that the placing way is the vertical placement(S73).

As described above, placing way sensor 111 may generate the imagesubjected to the binarization processing from the image of the placementregion (the image after the processing). Placing way sensor 111 maysense whether or not the passport is placed with the horizontalplacement, using the image subjected to the binarization processing.

Moreover, using the image subjected to the binarization processing,placing way sensor 111 may sense a first region (region 23), which is aregion corresponding to the passport, or a second region (region 26),which is a region other than the region corresponding to the passport inthe placement region. Placing way sensor 111 may sense whether or notthe passport is placed with the horizontal placement, based on the firstregion or the second region.

Moreover, placing way sensor 111 may sense whether or not the passportis placed with the horizontal placement, based on a ratio between anarea of a predetermined region (frame 23 a) and an area of the firstregion (region 23). Alternatively, placing way sensor 111 may sensewhether or not the passport is placed with the horizontal placement,based on a ratio between an area of a predetermined region (frames 28)and an area of the second region (region 26).

Seventh Example

In the present example, a case will be described, where in first sensor11, the placing way of the passport on the placement region is sensed bythe image sensor without turning on the internal light source. Here, theplacement region is made of a transparent glass surface, and thepassport is placed on the glass surface. Moreover, a description will begiven on the premise that the image sensor captures an image of theglass surface (i.e., the placement region) from below the glass surface,and that the internal light source is installed below the glass surface.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing operation of first sensor 11 in a seventhexample. FIG. 22 corresponds to one example of the processing before theauthentication processing shown in FIG. 9.

Namely, in S10 shown in FIG. 9, suppose that the person enters theregion inside gate system 100 from the entrance gate. In this case,first, first sensor 11 turns off the internal light source (S81).

Next, first sensor 11 senses the placing way of the passport on theplacement region with the internal light source turned off (S82). Theprocessing in S82 corresponds to the placing way sensing processingshown in FIG. 9. Details are as described above, and thus, descriptionhere is omitted.

Next, first sensor 11 turns on the internal light source (S83). Firstsensor 11 reads the information indicated in the passport, based on theimage of the passport captured by the image sensor (S84). The processingin S84 corresponds to the reading processing shown in FIG. 9.

When the reading processing in S84 ends, first sensor 11 turns off theinternal light source (S85).

In this manner, in the present example, the internal light source is notlighted before the person places the passport on the placement region tothereby cover the glass surface in the placement region. This canprevent the person from feeling dazzled when the person places thepassport on the placement region.

Eighth Example

In the present example, acquisition timing of the background image willbe described. The background image is used when the processing by thebackground subtraction technique is executed to an image of theplacement region. In the present example, an image of the placementregion in the state where the passport is not placed corresponds to thebackground image, and an image of the placement region in the statewhere the passport is placed corresponds to the input image. In thefollowing drawings, similar elements are given with the same referencemarks, and detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of one example of the acquisitiontiming of the background image in an eighth example. In FIG. 23, a gateregion state means a state of the region inside gate system 100. In FIG.23, operation means operation of first sensor 11. In the example shownin FIG. 23, first sensor 11 captures (acquires) the background image inaccordance with an entrance trigger or an exit trigger when the personexits from the region inside gate system 100. Here, the entrance triggeris a time when the person enters the region inside gate system 100, andtiming before the passport is placed on the placement region. Moreover,the entrance trigger is timing when gate system control device 10outputs, to the entrance gate controller, the signal to open theentrance gate such that the person passes through the entrance gate.Moreover, the entrance trigger may be timing when the human detectingsensor configured to sense that a person enters the gate system sensesthe person. Moreover, the exit trigger is, for example, timing when gatesystem control device 10 outputs, to exit gate controller 19, the signalto open the exit gate such that the person passes through the exit gate.

In other words, if placing way sensor 111 executes the processing by thebackground subtraction technique, first sensor 11 only needs to acquire,as the background image, the image of the placement region in the statewhere the passport is not placed when no person is present in a regionbetween the entrance gate and the exit gate.

In this manner, placing way sensor 111 uses, as the background image,the image of the placement region in the state where the passport is notplaced in the background subtraction technique. That is, by acquiringthe background image when the person enters or exits, first sensor 11can surely acquire the background image, which is the image of theplacement region in the state where the passport is not paced when noperson is present in the region inside gate system 100. This preventsthe acquisition of the background image from failing, so that firstsensor 11 can stably execute the processing by the backgroundsubtraction technique.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of one example of the acquisitiontiming of the background image in the eighth example. In the exampleshown in FIG. 24, first sensor 11 captures (acquires) the backgroundimage before the person enters the region inside gate system 100 (in thestate where the person is absent). First sensor 11 may periodicallycapture the background image in the state where the person is absent,and update the background image held in the memory (not shown) or thelike. Moreover, while first sensor 11 may periodically capture thebackground image in the state where the person is absent, first sensor11 may update the background image held in the memory (not shown) or thelike only when a background situation changes. The case where thebackground situation changes may be, for example, a case where theenvironmental illuminance, which is the illuminance around theinstallation place of the image sensor, has changed.

In this manner, by acquiring the background image when the person isabsent, first sensor 11 can surely acquire the background image, whichis the image of the placement region in the state where the passport isnot placed.

The background image is not limited to the above-described imagecaptured at the acquisition timing. If the capturing of the backgroundimage fails, a last background image, the capturing of which hassucceeded, may be used. This will be described with reference to FIG. 25and FIG. 26.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of one example of the acquisitiontiming of the background image in the eighth example. FIG. 26 is aflowchart showing one example of operation of first sensor 11 in theeighth example.

First, as shown in FIG. 25, first sensor 11 acquires (captures) thebackground image (hereinafter, referred to as background at the entrancetime or a current background image as well) in accordance with theentrance trigger. In this case, first sensor 11 determines whether ornot the placing way sensing processing by means of the acquiredbackground at the entrance time has timed out (S91). Here, the timeoutmeans a case where a preset time has been exceeded.

In S91, if the placing way sensing processing by means of the backgroundat the entrance time has not timed out (No in S91), first sensor 11confirms whether the placing way sensing processing has been completed(S92). If the placing way sensing processing has been completed (Yes inS92), as shown in FIG. 25, the background at the entrance time is storedas a successful background image (hereinafter, referred to as a lastbackground image as well), and the processing is ended. In S92, if theplacing way sensing processing has not been completed (No in S92), atime required for the placing way sensing processing, using thebackground at the entrance time (a time for the processing of thebackground at the entrance time) is added (S93). The processing thenreturns to the processing in S91. The time for the processing of thebackground at the entrance time added in S93 is used in the processingin S91. The time for the processing of the background at the entrancetime is, for example, about three seconds to five seconds.

On the other hand, in S91, if the placing way sensing processing bymeans of the background at the entrance time has timed out (Yes in S91),first sensor 11 shifts to placing way sensing processing by means of thelast background image stored in the last processing. First sensor 11then determines whether or not the placing way sensing processing bymeans of the last background image has timed out (S94).

In S94, if the placing way sensing processing by means of the lastbackground image has not timed out (No in S94), first sensor 11 confirmswhether the placing way sensing processing by means of the lastbackground image has been completed (S95). If the placing way sensingprocessing by means of the last background image has been completed (Yesin S95), as shown in FIG. 25, the last background image is stored as asuccessful background image, and the processing is ended. If the placingway sensing processing by means of the last background image has notbeen completed (No in S95), a time required for the placing way sensingprocessing by means of the last background image (a processing timeusing the last background image) is added (S96). The processing thenreturns to the processing in S94.

On the other hand, in S94, if the placing way sensing processing bymeans of the last background image has timed out (Yes in S94), theplacing way sensing processing is disabled. Therefore, first sensor 11announces (notifies) the situation to a person in charge of gate system100 by alarm (S97).

In this manner, if the placing way sensing processing using the currentbackground image has failed, first sensor 11 uses the last backgroundimage, which has succeeded in the last placing way sensing processing.This allows first sensor 11 to stably execute the processing by thebackground subtraction technique.

Ninth Example

In the present example, an example of a case where image determiner 113of first sensor 11 determines the situation of the installation place ofthe image sensor will be described. In the following drawings, similarelements are given with the same reference marks, and detaileddescription is omitted. In the present example, the placement region isalso made of a transparent glass surface, and the passport is alsoplaced on the glass surface. Moreover, a description will be given onthe premise that the image sensor captures an image of the glasssurface, that is, the placement region from below the glass surface, andthere is no cover for avoiding ambient light in the placement region.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing operation when first sensor 11 adjustssetting of the image sensor in a ninth example. FIG. 28 and FIG. 29 areexplanatory views of one example of an image obtained by imaging theplacement region in the ninth example. FIG. 28 shows image 29 obtainedby imaging the placement region, which is the whole glass surface. FIG.29 shows peripheral region 29 a corresponding to a peripheral region ofthe placement region in image 29 obtained by imaging the placementregion, which is the whole glass surface. Peripheral region 29 acorresponds to an area where the passport comes into contact with theplacement region, which is the glass surface, when the passport isplaced.

First, first sensor 11 sets exposure of the image sensor at theinstallation time, at the starting time, or at the time of environmentalilluminance change of the image sensor (S101). Next, first sensor 11sets a binarization threshold for sensing the passport in the imageobtained by imaging the placing region by the image sensor (S102).

More specifically, in S101, image determiner 113 determines thesituation of the installation place of the image sensor. First sensor 11sets the exposure of the image sensor in accordance with the situationdetermined by image determiner 113. Here, the above-mentioned situationmay be environmental illuminance, which is illuminance of a periphery ofthe installation place of the image sensor, or may be a situation of adark portion and a light portion of the image obtained by imaging theplacement region. Moreover, for example, the situation may be a ratiobetween maximum luminance and minimum luminance of all pixelsconfiguring image 29 as shown in FIG. 28. Moreover, the situation may bean average, a variance, or a standard deviation of the luminance of allthe pixels configuring image 29 shown in FIG. 28. As described above,controller 13 may adjust the exposure of the image sensor, based on thebackground image. Specifically, controller 13 may adjust the exposure ofthe image sensor, based on the ratio between the maximum luminance andthe minimum luminance of the pixels included in the background image.

Moreover, if first sensor 11 changes the exposure of the image sensor,image determiner 113 may determine a change amount (a rate of change) ofaverage luminance of image 29 of the placement region captured by theimage sensor. In this case, first sensor 11 may set, as the exposure ofthe image sensor, the exposure when the change amount corresponds to apredetermined value. While image determiner 113 determines theabove-described situation, using all the pixels configuring image 29shown in FIG. 28, the present example is not limited thereto. Imagedeterminer 113 may determine the above-described situation, using pixelsconfiguring peripheral region 29 a shown in FIG. 29.

Next, processing in S102 will be specifically described.

FIG. 30A and FIG. 30B are explanatory views of a range that the imagesensor images in the ninth example. FIG. 30A and FIG. 30B show placementregion 29 b and outside region 30 of placement region 29 b in the ninthexample. FIG. 30B corresponds to a view when FIG. 30A is cut along lineA-A′ and is viewed from a side. Moreover, image sensor 31 is shown inFIG. 30B.

In S102, first sensor 11 causes image sensor 31 to image a rangeincluding placement region 29 b and outside region 30 of the same. Firstsensor 11 sets the binarization threshold from a luminance average ofpixels configuring a region corresponding to outside region 30 in acaptured image. Here, since outside region 30 is hardly affected bylight from outside, luminance of outside region 30 is close to luminanceindicated by the image of the passport placed on placement region 29 b.This is because outside region 30 is used.

A case can also be considered where in an image in the state where thepassport is absent, which is captured by image sensor 31 in S102, aratio of pixels each having luminance smaller than a threshold mayexceed a predetermined value of about 30% to 50%. In this case, there isa possibility that in the image in the state where the passport isabsent, first sensor 11 erroneously senses that the passport is placed.Therefore, first sensor 11 may return to S101 to make the exposuresetting of image sensor 31 again, or may notify that the exposuresetting of image sensor 31 is improper.

In this manner, after adjusting the exposure of the image sensor, firstsensor 11 calculates the threshold used to sense that the passport isplaced on the placement region, based on a luminance average of thepixels included in the outside region included in the image captured bythe image sensor.

As described above, according to the present example, first sensor 11can adjust the exposure and the like of the image sensor, based on thesituation such as the environmental illuminance at the installationtime, at the starting time, or at the time of environmental illuminancechange. This allows first sensor 11 to optimally execute the placing waysensing processing under various environments.

Tenth Example

In the present example, a specific example of processing in which reader112 reads the information indicated in the passport will be described.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing operation of reader 112 in a tenthexample. The flowchart shown in FIG. 31 corresponds to a detailedexample of the reading processing (S12) shown in FIG. 9.

Namely, in the placing way sensing processing (S11) in FIG. 9, supposethat the placing way sensing processing has been completed by placingway sensor 111, and that the image sensor has captured the image of thepassport placed on the placement region. In this case, first, reader 112senses the features peculiar to the passport captured in the image ofthe passport (S111). Here, the features peculiar to the passport will bedescribed. FIG. 32 and FIG. 33 are explanatory views of the featurespeculiar to the passport in the tenth example. Namely, as shown in FIG.32 and FIG. 33, the passport includes face photograph 32 of the personwho holds the passport, MRZ 33, hologram 34 of Mt. Fuji or cherryblossom, and a page number (not shown) at predetermined positions.Accordingly, these are the features peculiar to the passport. Namely,the features peculiar to the passport that reader 112 uses may be MRZ 33of the passport, or may be face photograph 32 of the passport, or theposition of hologram 34 in the passport. Moreover, the features peculiarto the passport may be an orientation of the page number of thepassport, or may be an orientation of the person captured in thephotograph or letters of the passport.

Next, reader 112 determines an orientation of the passport, based on thefeatures peculiar to the passport captured in the image of the passport(S112). In S112, if the orientation of the passport is rotated by 180°,that is, the passport is inverted (180° in S112), the image of thepassport is rotated and corrected to 0°. On the other hand, in S112, ifthe orientation of the passport is 0°, that is, the passport is notinverted (0° in S112), the processing ends without performing thecorrection. Thereafter, reader 112 reads the information indicated inthe passport captured in the image of the passport.

As described above, in the present example, reader 112 determineswhether or not the orientation of the passport is inverted with respectto a reading direction, based on the features peculiar to the passportcaptured in the image of the passport, and if the orientation of thepassport is inverted, the image of the placement region is rotated by180° to read the information indicated in the passport. The informationindicated in the passport is, for example, the photograph, as describedabove. The read information indicated in the passport is sent to theperson in charge such as the inspector staying near the exit gate, andis used to confirm the person who passes through the exit gate.

Reader 112 may read the information indicated in the passport from theimage captured by image sensor 31 of the reading device shown in FIG. 3.Moreover, reader 112 may read the information indicated in the passportfrom the information that IC reader part 15 of authentication part 14shown in FIG. 6 acquires.

As described above, according to the present example, the person whoplaces the passport on the placement region can place the passportwithout worrying about a right-left orientation of the passport in theopened state, when horizontally placing the passport in the opened stateon the placement region. This can reduce burden of the person who placesthe passport in the placement region.

Eleventh Example

In the above-described first to tenth examples, the case has beendescribed, where if the passport in the opened state is placedhorizontally on the placement region, it is sensed that the passport isplaced on the placement region. However, the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. If the placement region has an area equal to or morethan a region that the passport in the opened state can be placed withthe vertical placement, the placement of the passport on the placementregion may be sensed, even when the passport in the opened state isplaced with the vertical placement on the placement region. Namely, evenif the orientation of the passport is vertical, based on the featurespeculiar to the passport captured in the image, reader 112 may read theinformation indicated in the passport, based on the image rotated by90°. Hereinafter, this case will be described.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing operation of reader 112 in an eleventhexample. The flowchart shown in FIG. 34 corresponds to a detailedexample of the reading processing (S12) shown in FIG. 9.

Namely, in the placing way sensing processing (S11) shown in FIG. 9,suppose that in the case where the passport in the opened state isplaced with the vertical placement on the placement region, the placingway sensing processing has been completed by placing way sensor 111, andthat the image sensor has captured the image of the passport placed onthe placement region. In this case, first, reader 112 senses thefeatures peculiar to the passport captured in the image of the passport(S121). Details have been described in the tenth example, and thus,description thereof is omitted.

Next, reader 112 determines the orientation of the passport, based onthe features peculiar to the passport captured in the image of thepassport (S122). In S122, in the case of a vertical placement statewhere the orientation of the passport is other than 0°, that is, isrotated by 90° or by 270° (90°, 270° in S122), the image of the passportis rotated and corrected to 0° (S123). On the other hand, in S122, ifthe orientation of the passport is 0°, that is, is not inverted (0° inS122), the processing ends without performing the correction.Thereafter, reader 112 reads the information indicated in the passportcaptured in the image of the passport.

As described above, in the present example, in the case of the verticalplacement state where the orientation of the passport is rotated by 90°or by 270°, based on the features peculiar to the passport captured inthe image of the passport, reader 112 rotates and corrects the image ofthe passport to 0° to read the information indicated in the passport.

In this manner, according to the present example, the person who placesthe passport on the placement region needs not place the passport withthe vertical placement or with the horizontal placement when placing thepassport on the placement region in the opened state. Namely, the personcan place the passport without worrying about the orientation. This canreduce burden of the person who places the passport on the placementregion.

Twelfth Example

In the present example, a case will be described where a person otherthan the object person, who cannot use gate system 100, is determined bymeans of the information indicated in the passport, and notification orguidance is performed. Hereinafter, a description will be given on thepremise that the object person who can use gate system 100 is a personhaving a predetermined nationality such as Japanese and the like, or aperson of a predetermined age or older such as twelve or older and thelike.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing operation of first sensor 11 in a twelfthexample. The flowchart shown in FIG. 35 corresponds to an example of theprocessing after the reading processing (S12) shown in FIG. 9.

Namely, suppose that in FIG. 9, reader 112 executes the readingprocessing for reading the information indicated in the passport. In thepresent example, reader 112 reads the MRZ as the information indicatedin the passport.

First, reader 112 determines whether the nationality or the age of theperson who holds the passport is an object country or an object age thatcan use gate system 100, based on the MRZ (S131).

In S131, if the nationality or the age of the person who holds thepassport is not the object country or the object age (No in S131), firstsensor 11 announces (notifies) this to the person. If the nationality ofthe person who holds the passport is other than Japan, announcement maybe performed in English or in a mother tongue determined by reading theMRZ. While this announcement is performed by notification part 114,voice announcement part 21 may perform this.

As described above, in the present example, if the person is not theobject person who can use gate system 100, based on the information readby reader 112, first sensor 11 causes notification part 114 to notifythe person that he or she is not the object person. More specifically,reader 112 may determine whether or not the person is the object personwho can use gate system 100, based on the information of the MRZ of thepassport. Notification part 114 notifies the person who is determinednot to be the object person who can use gate system 100 by reader 112.Here, if the person is a foreigner, and is not the object person who canuse gate system 100, notification part 114 may notify the fact in amother tongue of the person. Namely, if the person is not the objectperson who can use the gate system, controller 13 causes the gate systemto execute the processing for notifying the person that the person isnot the object person. Here, reader 112 may acquire information of alanguage that the person uses from the information indicated in thepassport. Controller 13 may cause the gate system to execute theprocessing for notifying that the person is not the object person in thelanguage that the person uses.

Thereby, gate system control device 10 can determine the person whocannot use gate system 100 configured to perform automatic inspection,and quickly guide the person to an appropriate section in a languageeasy to understand. This allows only the person who can use gate system100 to use gate system 100, so that smooth system operation can beperformed.

[Effects and the Like]

According to the present disclosure, there can be provided a gate systemcontrol device or the like that can prevent a passport from beingmislaid.

More specifically, gate system control device 1 of the presentdisclosure is a gate system control device configured to control gatesystem 100 having the exit gate, and includes first sensor 2, secondsensor 3, and controller 4. First sensor 2 senses that the passport ofthe person who is in gate system 100 is placed on the placement region.Second sensor 3 senses that the person is moving. Controller 4 controlsgate system 100. When first sensor 2 senses that the passport is placedon the placement region and second sensor 3 senses that the person ismoving to the exit gate, controller 4 causes gate system 100 to executethe processing for notifying the person.

Here, for example, controller 4 may cause gate system 100 to execute theprocessing for closing the exit gate as the processing for notifying theperson.

Here, for example, first sensor 2 may sense that the passport is placedon the placement region, based on the image of the placement regionwhere the passport is placed, which image is captured by the imagesensor.

[Possibility of Other Exemplary Embodiments]

Moreover, in the present disclosure, the image sensor images the glasssurface, that is, the placement region from below the glass surface, asshown in FIG. 3. However, a surface where the information is describedmay not face a surface of the placement region, but both surfaces mayface in opposite directions to each other. The configuration may be suchthat the image sensor images the glass surface, that is, the placementregion from above the glass surface to perform the authentication.Namely, the image sensor may be disposed so as to image the informationof the passport.

For example, the gate system may include a camera such as the imagesensor outside the gate system control device or the like to image theplacement region from above the placement region. In this case, a coverof the passport in the opened state and the orientation thereof can bedetermined by using the image in the state where the passport is placedon the placement region. This allows the gate system control device toperform caution announcement if a cover side of the passport is placedon the placement region. Hereinafter, this case will be described withreference to a drawing as a modification.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart showing operation of the gate system controldevice in the modification. The flowchart shown in FIG. 36 correspondsto a processing example of the placing way sensing processing (S11)shown in FIG. 9, and is different processing from the placing waysensing processing (S11).

Namely, in S10 shown in FIG. 9, suppose that the person passes throughthe entrance gate and enters, and places the passport in the openedstate on the placement region.

In this case, the gate system control device determines whether thecover of the passport placed on the placement region is on an upperside, based on the image from above the placement region captured by thecamera (S141). In S141, if the cover of the passport placed on theplacement region is not on the upper side (No in S141), a cautionannouncement is given such that the passport is placed with the cover ofthe passport being on the upper side (S142). Notification part 114 orthe like of first sensor 11 may perform the caution announcement.

On the other hand, in S141, if the cover of the passport placed in theplacement region is on the upper side (Yes in S141), the gate systemcontrol device determines the orientation of the passport in the openedstate placed on the placement region, based on the image from above theplacement region captured by the camera (S143). In S143, if theorientation of the passport is 0°, that is, is not rotated (0° in S143),the processing ends without performing the correction. Thereafter,reader 112 reads the information indicated in the passport captured inthe image of the passport. On the other hand, in S143, in the invertedstate where the orientation of the passport is rotated by 180° (180° inS143), the image is rotated and corrected to 0°, and the processing mayadvance to S12, which is the next processing.

In this manner, based on the image from above the placement regioncaptured by the camera, the gate system control device in the presentmodification can quickly and precisely determine the orientation of thecover of the passport and the orientation of the passport in the openedstate, which has been placed by the person on the placement region. Thisenables the smooth system operation of the gate system in the presentmodification to be performed.

For example, the gate system may include guide light that guides theplacement of the passport around the placement region. If reader 112 hasread the MRZ from the image obtained by imaging the passport by usingleakage light of the guide light, first sensor 11 may determine that thepassport has been placed. In this case, computer 1000 in FIG. 8 need notinclude internal light source 1007. Moreover, first sensor 11 needs notinclude placing way sensor 111.

As described above, the gate system control device according to one ormore aspects of the present disclosure, and the method for controllingthe gate system have been described, based on the exemplary embodiment.However, the present disclosure should not be limited to this exemplaryembodiment. Configurations in which various variations conceived bythose skilled in the art are applied to the present exemplaryembodiment, and configurations established by combining constituentelements in different exemplary embodiments may also fall within thescope of one or more aspects of the present disclosure, withoutdeparting from the gist of the present disclosure. For example, thefollowing cases are also included in the present disclosure.

(1) Each of the above-described devices is specifically a computersystem configured with a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit,a display unit, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. A computer program isstored in the RAM or the hard disk unit. The microprocessor operates inaccordance with the computer program, by which each of the devices canachieve a function thereof. Here, the computer program is configured bycombining a plurality of command codes indicating instructions to thecomputer in order to achieve the predetermined function.

(2) Part or all of the constituent elements configuring each of theabove-described devices may be configured with one system LSI (LargeScale Integration). The system LSI is a super-multifunctional LSI inwhich a plurality of components are integrated on one chip andmanufactured, and specifically, is a computer system including amicroprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. A computer program is storedin the RAM. The microprocessor operates in accordance with the computerprogram, by which the system LSI can achieve a function thereof.

(3) Part or all of the constituent elements configuring each of theabove-described devices may be configured with an IC card that can bemounted and unmounted on each of the devices, or a single module. The ICcard or the module is a computer system configured with amicroprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The IC card or the modulemay include the above-described super-multifunctional LSI. Themicroprocessor operates in accordance with the computer program, bywhich the IC card or the module can achieve a function thereof. This ICcard or this module may have tamper resistance.

(4) The present disclosure may be the above-described methods. Moreover,these methods may be each a computer program implemented by a computer,or may be a digital signal configured of the computer program.

Moreover, the present disclosure may be a recording medium that allowsthe computer program or the digital signal to be read by a computer, forexample, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM an MO, a DVD, a DVD-ROM,a DVD-RAM, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc (BD), a semiconductormemory, and the like. Moreover, the present disclosure may be a digitalsignal recorded on these recording mediums.

Moreover, in the present disclosure, the computer program or the digitalsignal may be transmitted via an electric communication channel, awireless or wired communication channel, a network represented by theInternet, data broadcasting, or the like.

Moreover, the present disclosure may be a computer system including amicroprocessor and a memory, and the memory may store theabove-described computer program, and the microprocessor may operate inaccordance with the computer program.

Moreover, the program or the digital signal may be recorded on therecording medium and be transferred, or the program or the digitalsignal may be transferred via the network or the like, by which thepresent disclosure may be carried out by another independent computersystem.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure can be used for a gate system control device anda method for controlling a gate system. Particularly, the presentdisclosure can be used for a gate system control device that uses apassport for passing through a gate, such as an automatic inspectionsystem configured to automatically perform emigration and immigrationinspection using the passport, and a method for controlling a gatesystem.

REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS

-   1, 10: gate system control device-   2, 11: first sensor-   3,12: second sensor-   4, 13: controller-   14: authentication part-   15: IC reader part-   16: personal authentication part-   17: human detecting sensor-   18: signal processor-   19: exit gate controller-   21: voice announcement part-   22, 22 a, 22 b, 22 c: placement region-   23, 24, 25, 26, 27: region-   23 a, 24 a, 28: frame-   29: image-   29 a: peripheral region-   29 b: placement region-   30: outside region-   31: image sensor-   32: face photograph-   33: MRZ-   34: hologram-   100: gate system-   111: placing way sensor-   112: reader-   113: image determiner-   114: notification part

1. A gate system control device for controlling a gate system having anexit gate, the gate system control device comprising: a first sensorconfigured to sense that a passport of a person who is in the gatesystem is placed on a placement region; a second sensor configured tosense that the person is moving; and a controller configured to controlthe gate system, wherein when the first sensor senses that the passportis placed on the placement region and the second sensor senses that theperson is moving to the exit gate, the controller causes the gate systemto execute processing for notifying the person.
 2. The gate systemcontrol device according to claim 1, wherein the controller causes thegate system to execute processing for closing the exit gate as theprocessing for notifying the person.
 3. The gate system control deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the first sensor senses that the passportis placed on the placement region, based on an image of the placementregion where the passport is placed, the image being captured by animage sensor.
 4. The gate system control device according to claim 3,wherein the placement region is a rectangular region, a length of alonger side of the placement region is larger than a length of a longerside of the passport in an opened state, a length of a shorter side ofthe placement region is larger than a length of the longer side of thepassport in the opened state, and is smaller than the length of thelonger side of the passport in the opened state, the first sensorincludes a placing way sensor configured to sense whether or not thepassport is placed with a horizontal placement, based on the image, andwhen the passport is placed on the placement region such that the longerside of the passport in the opened state is along the longer side of theplacement region, the placing way sensor senses that the passport isplaced with the horizontal placement.
 5. The gate system control deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the placing way sensor generates an imagesubjected to binarization processing from the image of the placementregion where the passport is placed, and senses whether or not thepassport is placed with the horizontal placement, using the imagesubjected to the binarization processing.
 6. The gate system controldevice according to claim 5, wherein the placing way sensor senses afirst region or a second region, using the image subjected to thebinarization processing, the first region being a region correspondingto the passport, and the second region being a region other than theregion corresponding to the passport in the placement region, and theplacing way sensor senses whether or not the passport is placed with thehorizontal placement, based on the first region or the second region. 7.The gate system control device according to claim 6, wherein the placingway sensor senses whether or not the passport is placed with thehorizontal placement, based on a ratio between an area of apredetermined region and an area of the first region or an area of thesecond region.
 8. The gate system control device according to claim 5,wherein, the placing way sensor generates the image subjected to thebinarization processing, using an image of the placement region in astate where the passport is not placed as a background image in abackground subtraction technique.
 9. The gate system control deviceaccording to claim 8, wherein the controller adjusts exposure of theimage sensor, based on the background image.
 10. The gate system controldevice according to claim 9, wherein the controller adjusts the exposureof the image sensor, based on a ratio between maximum luminance andminimum luminance of pixels included in the background image.
 11. Thegate system control device according to claim 4, wherein when thepassport is not placed with the horizontal placement, the controllercauses the gate system to execute processing for notifying the personthat the passport is not placed with the horizontal placement.
 12. Thegate system control device according to claim 1, wherein the firstsensor includes a reader configured to read information indicated in thepassport.
 13. The gate system control device according to claim 12,wherein the reader acquires a name of the person from the information,and the controller causes the gate system to execute processing forissuing voice including the name of the person as the processing fornotifying the person.
 14. The gate system control device according toclaim 13, wherein the reader determines whether or not an orientation ofthe passport is inverted with respect to a reading direction, based onfeatures peculiar to the passport, and when the orientation of thepassport is inverted, the reader rotates the image of the placementregion by 180° to read the information indicated in the passport. 15.The gate system control device according to claim 14, wherein thefeatures peculiar to the passport is a machine readable zone (MRZ) ofthe passport.
 16. The gate system control device according to claim 12,wherein the first sensor determines whether or not the person is anobject person who can use the gate system, based on the information, andwhen the person is not the object person who can use the gate system,the controller causes the gate system to execute processing fornotifying that the person is not the object person.
 17. The gate systemcontrol device according to claim 16, wherein the reader acquiresinformation of a language used by the person from the information, andthe controller causes the gate system to execute the processing fornotifying that the person is not the object person in the language usedby the person.
 18. The gate system control device according to claim 1,wherein the second sensor senses that the person is moving, based onoutput of an infrared sensor.
 19. A method for controlling a gate systemhaving an exit gate, the method comprising: a first sensing step ofsensing that a passport of a person who is in the gate system is placedon a placement region; a second sensing step of sensing that the personis moving; and an execution step of causing the gate system to executeprocessing for notifying the person, when the placement of the passporton the placement region is sensed in the first sensing step and themoving of the person is sensed in the second sensing step.